Physicians: Effect of Boswellia on coronavirus not proven

KABUL (Pajhwok): Some internet sites have published articles saying Boswellia is effective in the treatment and prevention of coronavirus, but doctors dismiss such rumors as baseless.

Boswellia, also known as Indian frankincense, is a herbal extract taken from the Boswellia serrata tree.

Some sites have reported that Boswellia is useful in treating coronavirus. However, medical experts reject this, saying that no medicine has so far been developed to treat Covid-19 infection.

Boswellia is a native tree in India, Africa and Saudi Arabia.

Published articles

The Delta Magazine in an article “The Magical Effect of Using Boswellia on Corona,” said using Boswellia herbal tea is an easy and inexpensive way to treat certain ailments. Today as the coronavirus is spreading, it is helpful to know the characteristics of herbal teas.

Meanwhile, the Fars News Agency published an article entitled ” Boswellia Properties for Corona” and said: In addition to being used to treat coronavirus, it has also been used to treat asthma for many years, and medical research confirms its effectiveness. Boswellia is effective in reducing the future complications caused by coronavirus. ”

A website called “Persia D” has published an article entitled Boswellia brewed tea is beneficial and fortifying for coronavirus, lungs and colds” and states: The type is the best and strong tea against coronavirus and cold. In the days of corona, when boosting the body’s immune system is one of the most important tasks, various herbal remedies, especially herbal teas, should be used.

But medical experts deny this.

“Boswellia is a plant,” Dr. Hashmatullah Faizi, head of quality control and trainer at the Afghan-Japan Hospital, told Pajhwok Afghan News. The plant is commonly found in Africa and Saudi Arabia, and is used in traditional medicine, for example, for Alzheimer’s disease, memory loss, diabetes, blood fats, and diarrhea, he added.

However, he said that no research has been done on the effectiveness of this plant in treating coronavirus.

Faizi called on the people to pay serious attention to the recommendations of the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Public Health and not to be deceived by content that has no scientific basis.

At the same time, Dr. Sherzad, a former advisor to the Ministry of Public Health, said Boswellia was antiseptic and used to heal wounds but  it offered no specific treatment for coronavirus and  these were only rumors.

“Everything used to increase the body’s resistance, such as fruits, vegetables, proteins, oils, minerals, can keep the body healthy and prevent the spread of infectious diseases,” he said. .

Faridullah Omari, a specialist trainer at Infectious Diseases Hospital, said: Needless to say, this is just a hypothesis, not a reality. “No research has been done on this, so we cannot identify Boswellia as a treatment for corona. He emphasized that the only way to prevent coronavirus was to get vaccinated.

Pajhwok tried to get the opinion of the Ministry of Public Health, but could not reach them.

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